047 What’s Next Graduate?

Dave fumbles about campus somehow managing to find a bunch of seniors who are about to graduate. Dave grills them on their plans for the future! It's every new graduate's dream come true!

 

 

Transcript: 

Dave Blanks:

Hey friends, on this Dave by the Bell, I'm going to talk to seniors who are graduating and ask them what the heck they got planned next. Stick around, won't you?

Jenna Michalski:

I'm Jenna Michalski.

Dave Blanks:

You're graduating, correct?

Jenna Michalski:

Yes.

Dave Blanks:

Congratulations.

Jenna Michalski:

Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

What have you been studying here at Appalachian State?

Jenna Michalski:

Commercial Photography Minor in English.

Dave Blanks:

Cool. So what do you plan to do with that? Be very creative, I would assume.

Jenna Michalski:

I'm trying to get paired with a video production company.

Dave Blanks:

Cool.

Jenna Michalski:

Either start off as an editor or some sort of an assistant.

Dave Blanks:

What are you doing on campus?

Jenna Michalski:

I have a final in about 30 minutes.

Dave Blanks:

Oh, snap. Are you ready for it?

Jenna Michalski:

Yeah, it's my last one so it's getting real.

Dave Blanks:

Is it sad?

Jenna Michalski:

A little bit.

Dave Blanks:

Yeah, you liked App?

Jenna Michalski:

Yeah, I did.

Dave Blanks:

You could still be here. You could study more.

Jenna Michalski:

I'm good on that.

Dave Blanks:

All right. Well, you can at least come back and visit?

Jenna Michalski:

Yes, absolutely.

Dave Blanks:

Okay, please do that. All right. What about girl with a dog? Do you think she's a senior? Hey, excuse me. Are you a senior graduating?

Girl with a dog:

No.

Dave Blanks:

Do you have a dog? Hello, dog. Oh, my gosh. What a nice puppy you have. Well, have a good day.

Girl with a dog:

Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

All right, bye. That was a friendly dog. Anyway, still heading down toward the sign Founders Plaza. I see some people. There are people getting pictures over here. I knew it. You look like you're graduating.

Val Moscoso:

I am.

Dave Blanks:

All right, cool. What's your name?

Val Moscoso:

Well, I'm Val Moscoso. I'm graduating with Exercise Science and a minor in Psychology. I'm taking a gap year, but I will go into occupational therapy school.

Dave Blanks:

So what are you doing with your gap year?

Val Moscoso:

I think the goal is definitely to explore a little bit.

Dave Blanks:

Cool. Are we talking worldwide or are we talking US?

Val Moscoso:

Definitely worldwide. But I mean, I'll definitely start out slow with the US something.

Dave Blanks:

Sure.

Val Moscoso:

But yeah, I definitely want to go backpacking in Europe or something like that.

Dave Blanks:

Nice. I was going to say, what's one place that you've never been, that you're sure you'll go specifically.

Val Moscoso:

I definitely want to go to Italy at some point.

Dave Blanks:

Okay, all right.

Val Moscoso:

For sure though.

Dave Blanks:

I love it. All right. Well, Val, the sky's the limit and congratulations.

Val Moscoso:

Thank you so much.

Aru Hopper:

I'm Arou Hopper. I want to go to PA school, and I have to get a bunch of clinical hours for that. So I have a job lined up for me as a CNA, and I'll be working either in Charlotte or in Boone. I'm trying to figure out which one.

Dave Blanks:

Thank you for your time and congratulations. And you have a friend here as well. So what is your name?

Morgan Smith:

Morgan Smith.

Dave Blanks:

So Morgan, you're also graduating?

Morgan Smith:

I am.

Dave Blanks:

All right. Excellent. What are you graduating with a degree in?

Morgan Smith:

Exercise Science.

Dave Blanks:

All right. Same as this. Cool. Are you all headed like to ...

Morgan Smith:

We're heading to the same exam actually.

Dave Blanks:

Oh, no, wait. All right. Okay. When do you have to be there? How much time do you have?

Morgan Smith:

20 minutes.

Dave Blanks:

Okay. All right. You're good. All right. All right. So Morgan, what's next for you?

Morgan Smith:

Same thing, just working to get clinical hours after I graduate.

Dave Blanks:

Do you know where you're doing in your clinicals?

Morgan Smith:

I'm heading back home to do a CNA clinical back home. Kind of want to travel a little bit, so we'll see.

Dave Blanks:

Excellent. Well, you all, thank you so much.

Aru Hopper:

Thank you so much.

Morgan Smith:

Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

Very much. And please come back and visit us.

Morgan Smith:

Thank you.

Aru Hopper:

[inaudible 00:03:33].

Morgan Smith:

Appreciate it.

Dave Blanks:

All right. See you later. Are you a senior maybe?

Freshman:

Huh?

Dave Blanks:

Are you a senior?

Freshman:

I'm freshman.

Dave Blanks:

All right, man. Keep at it. He seemed like a freshman. We're in the student union now, looking for seniors. Is either one of yall a senior?

Foster:

We are.

Dave Blanks:

Can I ask you a question for my podcast?

Foster:

Of course.

Dave Blanks:

Real lighthearted. Okay, cool. Who are you, sir?

Foster:

My name's Foster.

Dave Blanks:

Cool.

Foster:

Like the beer or the child.

Dave Blanks:

And what is your name?

McKenzie:

McKenzie.

Dave Blanks:

Okay. So Foster and McKenzie. So Foster, what have you been studying here at App?

Foster:

I'm a Sociology major.

Dave Blanks:

Where's the next step for you? Where are you going with this?

Foster:

Oh, that's a great question. I'm actually doing an internship this summer with the courthouse, so we'll see if maybe local governments-

Dave Blanks:

Here in Watauga?

Foster:

Yep, absolutely. Here in Watauga.

Dave Blanks:

Oh, nice one. Cool. Well, thanks Foster. Hopefully we'll see you under good circumstances at the courthouse.

Foster:

Fingers crossed.

Dave Blanks:

Hope so. And what is your name again? I'm sorry.

McKenzie:

McKenzie.

Dave Blanks:

Okay, McKenzie. So what have you been studying? Also Sociology?

McKenzie:

Also sociology.

Dave Blanks:

I could have guessed. Where are you going after this?

McKenzie:

I enjoy that Sociology is very broad.

Dave Blanks:

It is.

McKenzie:

You know what I mean? So I feel like I can go into a bunch of different things.

Dave Blanks:

Right.

McKenzie:

But I do think HR is pretty interesting.

Dave Blanks:

Okay. I can't go into Crossroads because they're cranking music. I can't afford to pay for all that Dua Lipa. Excuse me, are you a senior by any chance?

Jana Bowman:

I am.

Dave Blanks:

You are?

Jana Bowman:

I'm Jana Bowman.

Dave Blanks:

Jana, how's it going?

Jana Bowman:

Good, how are you?

Dave Blanks:

I'm good. Where did you ... Did you get some at Cascades?

Jana Bowman:

No, I was coming from the Office of Community Engaged Leadership.

Dave Blanks:

Okay. Is that what you do at App when you're not studying things?

Jana Bowman:

Yeah, I hang out there all the time. I work there. I volunteer. It's just a great place to be. I always pitch it as like, if you care about anything, our office is a great place to be.

Dave Blanks:

If you care about anything.

Jana Bowman:

Anything at all. We do everything from voter engagement to environmental justice to volunteering with nonprofits in the community, leadership.

Dave Blanks:

What if you care about animals?

Jana Bowman:

Animals? We I'm pretty sure just did a day of service to the local animal shelter.

Dave Blanks:

Oh really? Oh, that's cool. I thought I was going to get you because you're naming all people stuff but yeah yeah.

Jana Bowman:

No, it's like I said. If you care about anything, our office is a really great place to be.

Dave Blanks:

All right. How do we find out more?

Jana Bowman:

The best ways to go to our office, which is I believe PSU 138. It's all the way at the end of the Union on the first floor.

Dave Blanks:

All right, cool. Well, thank you very much. So here's my actual question. So, you're graduating. What did you study here at App?

Jana Bowman:

I studied Sustainable Development.

Dave Blanks:

Do you feel like you've learned a lot?

Jana Bowman:

Yeah, definitely. I think specifically within my major, it shifted my entire mindset of how everything is connected. Because I think beforehand you just think about one problem and then another problem. But then within the Sustainable Development major, you kind of learn how everything is a feedback loop and how everything's connected and there are drivers and symptoms of problems, and that really helps you to understand how to fix the overall issue.

Dave Blanks:

Right, cool. What is next for you?

Jana Bowman:

I have a job actually working at a nonprofit in the triangle called The Hunt Institute. It's a nonprofit and they basically advocate for just really progressive public policy agendas for K through 12 education in North Carolina and nationally.

Dave Blanks:

Nice.

Jana Bowman:

I'm connecting policy makers and leaders in education and really just trying to get the conversations about how we can help schools and teachers and communities and kids.

Dave Blanks:

What a great mountaineer you are.

Jana Bowman:

Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

Yeah, keep at it.

Jana Bowman:

Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

Man, I'm sure you'll do great things. I appreciate your time. And congratulations.

LA McGee:

I am LA McGee.

Dave Blanks:

LA, What did you study here at Appalachian State?

LA McGee:

Exercise Science. I'm actually moving to Wisconsin to work at an adventure resort as a raft guide.

Dave Blanks:

That sounds so cool. So what's the river that you'll be on?

LA McGee:

I honestly can't remember what it's called.

Dave Blanks:

No, shameful. How did you even get the gig? How did you get the job?

LA McGee:

I found it on a website called Cool Works.

Dave Blanks:

All right. Cool works with a C? Not like so cool that they have to spell it with a K.

LA McGee:

I know, they should do it that way honestly.

Dave Blanks:

Come on. Cool works. Let's listen to LA here. All right. So cool. So do you know anybody out there?

LA McGee:

I do not.

Dave Blanks:

Wow. Are you nervous?

LA McGee:

I am very nervous. I leave in three days.

Dave Blanks:

Oh my gosh. Have you finished all your exams?

LA McGee:

I'm actually about to finish one now.

Dave Blanks:

Good luck.

LA McGee:

Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

And we'll see you on the river.

LA McGee:

Perfect.

Dave Blanks:

All right, thanks. Well, I've actually managed to find a pretty good number of seniors. Hey, excuse me. Hey, are any of you all seniors who are about to graduate? You are? Can I ask you a question for my podcast?

Ivy Crist:

Okay.

Dave Blanks:

Is that okay?

Ivy Crist:

Yeah.

Dave Blanks:

All right, cool. So where are we? I'm in Club Hub. So what is this place?

Ivy Crist:

So Club Hub is a resource for clubs and organizations on campus. We have physical resources like outdoor games, board games. Then we also do funding for clubs through Club Council.

Dave Blanks:

Cool. Who are you? You're so informative.

Ivy Crist:

I'm Ivy Crist.

Dave Blanks:

All right, Ivy. So are you graduating? Thank you for that information about Club Hub. I appreciate that.

Ivy Crist:

I work here.

Dave Blanks:

Okay, all right. It makes sense that you're in here. What are you graduating with a degree in. What did you study here at App?

Ivy Crist:

Political science.

Dave Blanks:

So what does the future hold for you, Ivy?

Ivy Crist:

So I'm not entirely sure yet, but I would love to work for a non-profit. Not a specific mission, more just like advocacy.

Dave Blanks:

A voice for people who maybe aren't being heard.

Ivy Crist:

Yes.

Dave Blanks:

So do you know geographically where that might occur?

Ivy Crist:

Probably to start somewhere in North Carolina or close.

Dave Blanks:

Keep it here. All right. Keep it in the state. Well, Ivy, thanks for your information. Thanks for your time, and congratulations on graduating.

Ivy Crist:

Yeah, of course. Thank you.

Dave Blanks:

I don't know why I'm in the student union. Most of the time I'm outside for these. Only in the student union when it's raining, but it's actually a really pretty day so maybe I'll just go back outside.

Excuse me. Are you a senior here at App by chance?

A Faculty Member:

No, I'm a faculty member.

Dave Blanks:

Oh, are you? For real? Oh, right. Well, I've been, most of the time when people say no, that means they're younger. So I'm like, well hang in there. But I mean, hang in there if you're grading stuff maybe.

A Faculty Member:

Grading, yeah.

Dave Blanks:

All right. Hang in there. I mean, a pretty good number of seniors. Right? A lot of me babbling to myself too. There's like a weird dinosaur shrine out here. Sort of weird. Looking for seniors. Maybe this is one. You know people ask me, Dave? No, they don't. Just kidding.

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

I'm Lauren Niedzwiecki.

Dave Blanks:

You're graduating?

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

Yes, I am.

Dave Blanks:

What have you been studying?

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science.

Dave Blanks:

Cool. All right. So what has been the most memorable part of Biology here at Appalachian State?

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

Probably just the field work. I really love doing field work and being outside. That's really heightened my passion.

Dave Blanks:

Did you have a wow moment when you went out anywhere up here.

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

Probably just the New River. It's so abundant in species.

Dave Blanks:

Can you tell me where you're headed next?

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

I'm going to be working with the Watauga Riverkeeper.

Dave Blanks:

Nice.

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

So I'm very excited about that. And then I think the possibilities are endless from there.

Dave Blanks:

Absolutely. So are you from the area originally?

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

No, I'm from Pilot Mountain, North Carolina.

Dave Blanks:

Okay, all right. But you're sticking around here to work for Watauga Riverkeeper?

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

I am, yes.

Dave Blanks:

Cool. Well, we're happy you're staying.

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

Oh, thank you. I appreciate that.

Dave Blanks:

Absolutely. And congratulations.

Lauren Niedzwiecki:

Thank you. Yep.

Dave Blanks:

Gross. There's somebody's handkerchief. What an old time-y word. Hanky. All right, Yosef statue, don't let me down. I mean, where else? There's the Appalachian sign and the Yosef statue, right? Peacock traffic circle. Nobody's at Yosef.

Going through. Echo-ey tunnel. Now I'm sweating. There's a person I can ask. Let's ask them. I see you have a name tag, Emily Pittman. So I'm Dave Blanks here. You can see on my name tag.

Emily Pittman:

I see it, yeah.

Dave Blanks:

Hey, nice to meet you too. So you're graduating as a grad student.

Emily Pittman:

Mmm-hmm.

Dave Blanks:

So what have you been studying here at App?

Emily Pittman:

Social Work.

Dave Blanks:

Okay, all right. So what part of society do you want to work with?

Emily Pittman:

I want to work with students.

Dave Blanks:

Okay.

Emily Pittman:

I really like working with other college students, so I'm excited to do that after graduation.

Dave Blanks:

Nice. Do you know where you're going to do it?

Emily Pittman:

Yes, I'm going to Elon University to work as an academic advisor.

Dave Blanks:

Well, Emily, thank you very much for your answer. I really appreciate it, and congrats on graduating.

Emily Pittman:

Thank you so much.

Dave Blanks:

Thanks, Emily. Oh, thank God. All right, I found the last one. I don't know why that had to be the last one, but mostly just because I'm tired of talking and walking. Congratulations seniors. We're proud of you. You'll always be mountaineers. You'll always have a place up here with us. Come back for homecoming. Come back for 4th of July, for whatever holiday, for all the holidays. I'm Dave Blanks. This has been Dave by the Bell. Bye.